From: "Duane" <macastronomer@mac.com>

Date: February 4, 2006 1:05:57 PM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Saturn at Opposition


Hi Jim,


Sorry for the slow response. Too much stuff to do :(


I'm not sure of the exact temp, but I'm going to take a guess that it was in the teens to 

20s  fahrenheit (so around -5 celsius if my conversion is accurate). I'm pretty thick 

skinned so it may have been colder. I know one guys wife who got in a sleeping bag, in the 

car and couldn't keep warm enough. It was also a battle to fight ice on everything. (always 

bring a blow dryer).


My Meade controller was reading surprisingly well. However, it wasn't responding to 

button pushes all that well. I've been out at -10 F ( two years ago) and couldn't read it 

unless I stuck it in my coat for a while.


I didn't think the seeing was the best I've had there (at Eagle Bluff in Lanesboro, MN) but I 

wonder if it does help to be at a dark sky for this. Or maybe it was just the lack of warm 

buildings causing local turbulence.


That was shot through my 8" Meade LX200 GPS UHTC. I didn't use any barlows on thats, 

strictly prime. Being between 1:00-2:00am at opposition, it was almost straight up which 

helps a lot.


Thanks for the compliment. I need them to keep me going :)


I posted one more that turned out slightly better than the last. Same night, just got around 

to process more after I posted. It's called: Saturn_2_Duane_01_27_06.jpg


Hopefully I get another opportunity before we sail too far away. Otherwise, Jupiter's my 

next target. 


Duane


--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, "jimchung2338" <jim_chung@...> wrote:


Duane,


It I could image Saturn that well I'd be a happy man!  What scope are you using and I'm 

curious as to how cold it really was.  I've been out this winter in -15 C and you can 

barely 

read the Autostar display.


Jim